Carrie Preston is full of praise for Stephen Colbert as he gears up for his highly anticipated appearance on Elsbeth.

The Emmy-winning actress couldn’t help but gush over her new costar, calling the late-night icon “such a great actor” after filming together for the show’s Season 3 premiere, titled Yes, And…, airing Sunday on CBS. 

The episode marks Colbert’s first major acting project following the unexpected cancellation of The Late Show.

“It was really serendipitous because for months and months we had been working to get these actors on the show,” Preston told Us Weekly. 

“Jonathan Tolins wrote the script specifically for Stephen Colbert. Then the week before we were about to start filming, it was announced that his show was done.”

The timing left the Elsbeth team unsure whether Colbert would still be able to participate. 

“We were concerned that he was going to be too busy dealing with that and he wouldn’t be able to come,” Preston admitted. 

“But he came and not only did he come but he came fully prepared. He was fully game and so happy to be there.”

In Yes, And…, Preston’s Elsbeth finds herself navigating the high-pressure world of late-night comedy when tensions flare between talk show host Scotty Bristol (played by Colbert), his head writer Laurel (Amy Sedaris), and her on-air sidekick husband Mickey (Andy Richter). 

The episode also introduces a new police officer, played by Lindsay Mendez, who moonlights as a stand-up comedian.

Preston said working with Colbert exceeded every expectation. 

“He was such a great actor,” she shared. “He was so fun to play with and it was everything that you wanted it to be and more.”

Despite the recent end of The Late Show, Colbert continues to stay busy under the CBS umbrella. 

He recently revealed that he will lend his voice to the Digital Vice Dean in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, premiering January 15 on Paramount+.